Victoria State Emergency Service
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) is a volunteer-based organisation responding to natural disasters and working to ensure the safety of communities around Victoria, Australia. Each State and territory of Australia has its own independent State Emergency Service (SES), and VICSES is only one of these services spread across Australia. At times of great need or catastrophic disaster, it is common that assistance be sought from other states.
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | 1975 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Jurisdiction | Victoria |
| Headquarters | 168 Sturt Street, Southbank, Victoria, Australia |
| Employees | Paid and Voluntary
Volunteers 5,000 Staff 200 |
| Agency executives |
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| Website | ses |
VICSES is the lead agency when responding to floods, storms, landslides; tsunami and earthquakes as well as operating the largest network of road rescue units in Australia and one of the largest in the world.
VICSES also provides assistance to other emergency services such as Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, The Country Fire Authority (CFA) and to municipal councils in support of their emergency management plans.
There are more than 5,000 volunteers and 200 employees[1] spread across 150 units.[2]
Responsibilities
Control Agency
Activities
In addition to its control agency functions, VICSES has a shared responsibility for rescues with the CFA and FRV.
VICSES along with other emergency services in Victoria, provide specialist response functions including:
- Road Rescue
- High Angle Rescue
- Industrial Rescue
- Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)
- Search and Rescue (SAR)
- Alpine Search and Rescue (ASAR)
- Land Based Swift Water Rescue (LBSWR)
- Marine Search and Rescue (MSAR)
- General Land Rescue
VICSES is also called upon to assist other agencies with unique tasks, some include:
- Victoria Police
- Crime scene preservation
- Evidence search
- General assistance (lighting, temporary power, ladders, etc.).
- Ambulance Victoria
- Assist with patient carryouts
- Assist paramedics in difficult terrain (4WD/ATV/BOAT)
- Country Fire Authority
- Staging area management
- Incident Management
- Environmental Protection Authority
- Deployment of air quality monitoring equipment
Regions
VICSES is broken into 6 regions that cover the state of Victoria
- Central Region (Melbourne Metropolitan)
- East Region (Gippsland)
- Mid West Region (Grampians)
- North East Region (Hume)
- North West Region (Loddon Malle)
- South West Region (Barwon South West)
| Region Map |
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Ranks
Volunteer Insignia
| Section Leader | Deputy Controller | Unit Controller |
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Staff Insignia
| Operations Officer | Operations Manager | Assistant Chief Officer | Deputy Chief Officer | Chief Officer |
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Vehicles, Trailers & Other Assets
Passenger Vehicles
Cars include a mixture of Ford, Holden, Subaru and Toyota
Mini-Van
Four Wheel Drives
Mixture of Nissan Patrol, Navara, Pathfinder, Ford Rangers, Everest & Toyota Hilux
Light Rescue
Mixture of chassis Ford, Mercedes & Iveco
Medium Rescue
Medium Rescue (2WD)
| Chssis | Hino 300 Series, 921 Crew Cab |
| GVM | 8.5t |
| Engine | 5.1L Turbocharged Diesel |
| Transmission | 6 Speed Automatic |
| Seating | 6 Seats |
| Drive | 4x2 rear wheel, 100L fuel tank capacity |
| Safety | Dual SRS Airbags, ABS Brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). |
Equipment Body:
- 5 large and 3 smaller lockers, with 3 x shadow boards for the storage of tools, 5 x sliding shelves and,
- 4 x slide and tilt shelves (including LED locker lighting).
- Light mast (up to 7.5m from ground) with 4 x 100W 24V LED lights (output 10,479 Lm per light).
- External work lights at the mid point of the body, controlled by the Hazard SLIC panel.
- Martin power supply system capacity of 8 kVA with 8 x 10A GPO’s.
- Compressed air system delivering 10 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) at 116psi.
- Bulbar fitted with HID driving lights.
- No tow bar fitted.
Equipment Capabilities:
- Up to 1,000kg of tools and equipment
- Multi purpose truck, i.e. capacity for storm and flood or RCR equipment.
Licence Requirements:
- Light Rigid Licence
Medium Rescue (4WD)
| Chssis | Isuzu NPS 75/155 4WD Crew Cab |
| GVM | 7.5t |
| Engine | 5.0L Diesel Turbocharged |
| Transmission | 5 speed Automated Manual |
| Seating | 7 Seats |
| Drive | Electric control part time 4WD with dual range transfer case, limited slip rear differential, 140 Litre fuel tank capacity |
| Safety | Incl. Driver and passenger air bags, ABS braking |
Equipment Body:
- 5 large and 3 smaller lockers, with 3 x shadow boards for the storage of tools, 5 x sliding shelves and,
- 4 x slide and tilt shelves (including LED locker lighting).
- Light mast (up to 7.5m from ground) with 4 x 24V LED lights.
- External work lights at the mid point of the body, controlled by the Hazard SLIC panel.
- Martin power supply system - capacity of 8 kVA with 8 x 10A GPO’s.
- Compressed air system delivering 10 Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) at 116psi.
- Bulbar fitted with 15,000lb, 24v winch & HID driving lights
- No tow bar fitted.
Equipment Capabilities:
- Up to 1,000kg of tools and equipment
- Multi purpose truck, i.e. capacity for RAIR, Storm and Flood equipment.
Licence Requirements:
- Light Rigid Licence
Heavy Rescue
Heavy Rescue Truck (2WD)
| Chssis | Hino 500, FD 1124 Crew Cab |
| GVM | 11t |
| Engine | 6.4L Diesel Turbocharged |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Seating | 7 Seats |
| Drive | Rear wheel, 200L fuel tank capacity |
| Safety | ABS Brakes with ASR, electric and heated mirrors and drivers SRS airbag |
Equipment Body:
- 7 large and 1 smaller lockers, with 3 x shadow boards for the storage of tools, 5 x sliding shelves and
- 8 x fixed shelving, 4 x slide and tilt shelves (including locker lighting).
- Light mast (up to 7.5m from ground) with 4 x 24v LED lights.
- External work lights at the mid point of the body, controlled by the Hazard SLIC panel.
- Martin power supply of 8kVA with 8 x 10A GPO.
- Compressed air system delivering 15 cubic feet per minute (CFM) at 130psi.
- Bull bar fitted with HID driving lights
- No tow bar fitted
Equipment Capabilities:
- Up to 2,000kg of tools and equipment
- RAIR purpose truck, i.e. capacity RAIR and storm or flood equipment.
Licence Requirements:
- Medium Rigid Licence
Boats
IRB's
Lighting Towers
Genie AL6-6000
- 8.40 m extended mast height
- 2.45 m long (drawbar retracted)
- Kubota D1403 diesel10.7 kW @1500rpm
AllightSykes URBAN MLLED200K-9AC-K
- 9-meter mast design
- LED's 4 x 500 watt
- 200,000 lumens
- Kubota D905 Diesel Engine
- 100km/h Wind Speed Rated
Sand Bag Trainer
Storm Trailer
Pump Trailer
Units
Central Region ( Including North West Metro and South)
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Rescue(s) | General Rescue(s) | Support(s) | Other | Special Skill Set | Notes |
| Brimbank | Stadium Dr,
Keilor Park VIC 3042 |
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| Central East RHQ Unit | ||||||||
| Central West RHQ Unit | ||||||||
| Chelsea | 13 Ashley Park Drive,
Chelsea Heights VIC 3196 |
Website | 1 | 2 | 2 – Four-Wheel Drives | 2 – Boats
1 – Lighting Trailer 1 – Pump Trailer 1 – Sand Bag Trailer 1 – General Purpose Trailer |
Boat Rescue
Land Based Swift Water Rescue Air Observer |
Chelsea SES Unit's history can be traced back to 1953 making it one of the longest, continuous serving units assisting the community
This unit is Junior Accredited allowing the unit to train children between the ages of 16 – 17 years old |
| Craigieburn | 151A Craigieburn Rd, Craigieburn VIC 3064 | |||||||
| Emerald | Old Gembrook Rd, Emerald VIC 3782 | |||||||
| Essendon | 9 Rutherford St,
Aberfeldie VIC 3039 |
Boat Rescue
Land Based Swift Water Rescue |
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| Fawkner | 1161 Sydney Rd, Hadfield VIC 3046 | Formerly Broadmeadows Unit, name changed on 12 September 2022 due to relocation | ||||||
| Footscray | 95 Sunshine Road,
West Footscray VIC 3012 (Entry via Indwe Street gate) |
2 | 2 | 2 Rescue Boats 1 Pumper Trailer 1 Community Education Trailer | Boat Rescue | Formed on the 8th of February 1962 | ||
| Frankston | 6 McMannis Way,
Seaford VIC 3198 |
Website | 3 | 0 | 3 – Four-Wheel Drives | 1 – Mini-bus
2 – Boats |
Road Crash Rescue
Boat Rescue |
This unit is Junior Accredited allowing the unit to train children between the ages of 16 – 17 years old |
| Glen Eira | 92 Bignell Rd,
Bentleigh East VIC 3165 |
1 | 1 | 2 – Four-Wheel Drives | 1 – Lighting Trailer | Formerly Oakleigh Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | ||
| Greater Dandenong | 42 Mills Rd,
Dandenong VIC 3175 |
Formerly Springvale Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | ||||||
| Hastings | Frankston - Flinders Rd, Hastings VIC 3915 | |||||||
| Healesville | 18 Argoon Rd, Healesville VIC 3777 | |||||||
| Heidelberg | 446 Waterdale Rd Heidelberg Heights 3081 | FacebookWebsite | 1- Medium General Rescue (Isuzu) - currently at Ararat
1- Light Rescue (Iveco) |
1- Hilux crew cab
1- Nissan Patrol |
1- Storm Trailer
1 - General Purpose trailer |
Search and Rescue Bike Squad x six bikes
1 x Traverse rescue Mule |
Formerly Northcote Unit, name changed on 12 Sept 2022 | |
| Hobsons Bay | Formerly Altona Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | |||||||
| Knox | ||||||||
| Lilydale | ||||||||
| Malvern | ||||||||
| Manningham | Formerly Doncaster Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | |||||||
| Maroondah | Formerly Croydon Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | |||||||
| Melton | ||||||||
| Monash | Formerly Waverley Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | |||||||
| Moorabbin | ||||||||
| Narre Warren | ||||||||
| Nillumbik | 58 Susan Street, Eltham, Victoria, 3088 | Website | 1 – RAIR Heavy Rescue
1 – RAIR Rescue Support |
1 | 1 – Four-Wheel Drive Technical Rescue
1 – Four-Wheel Drive Support |
1 x Lighting Trailer
1 x Sandbag Filler Trailer |
Road Crash Rescue
Technical Rescue – Steep Angle Rope Rescue (multi-agency team with CFA) Air Search Observers Land Based Swift Water Rescue Land-based Swift Water Rescue Urban Search and Rescue Category 1 |
Formerly Eltham Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 |
| Pakenham | ||||||||
| Port Phillip | Formerly St Kilda Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | |||||||
| Sorrento | ||||||||
| Sunbury | ||||||||
| Upper Yarra | ||||||||
| Whitehorse | Formerly Nunawading Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | |||||||
| Whittlesea | ||||||||
| Wyndham | ||||||||
| Wyndham West | Was the 150th VICSES Unit Created and became operation on July 14, 2020 with 6 members[3] |
East Region
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Notes |
| East Regional Support | |||
| Bairnsdale | |||
| Bendoc | |||
| Bruthen | |||
| Buchan | |||
| Cann River | |||
| Erica | |||
| Foster | |||
| Inverloch | |||
| Leongatha | |||
| Loch Sport | |||
| Maffra | |||
| Mallacoota | |||
| Moe | |||
| Morwell | |||
| Orbost | |||
| Phillip Island | |||
| Rosedale | |||
| Sale | |||
| San Remo | |||
| Stratford | |||
| Tambo Valley | Formerly Swifts Creek Unit, name changed on 1 November 2018 | ||
| Warragul | |||
| Wonthaggi | |||
| Yarram |
Mid West Region
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Notes |
| Ararat | |||
| Bacchus Marsh | |||
| Ballarat | |||
| Dimboola | |||
| Dunmunkle | Formerly known as Rupanyup Unit, name changed on 30 June 2014 | ||
| Edenhope | |||
| Goroke | |||
| Daylesford | Formerly Hepburn Shire Unit, name changed on 12 Sept 2022 | ||
| Horsham | |||
| Kaniva | |||
| Mid West Region Support | |||
| Nhill | |||
| St Arnaud | |||
| Stawell | |||
| Warracknabeal |
North East Region
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Notes |
| Alexandra | |||
| Beechworth | |||
| Benalla | |||
| Bright | |||
| Chiltern | |||
| Cobram | |||
| Corryong | |||
| Euroa | |||
| Falls Creek | |||
| Kilmore | |||
| Kinglake | |||
| Mansfield | |||
| Marysville | |||
| Mitta Mitta | |||
| Murchison | |||
| Myrtleford | |||
| Numurkah | |||
| Regional Headquarters Unit | |||
| Rutherglen | |||
| Seymour | |||
| Shepparton SAR | |||
| Tallangatta | |||
| Tatura | |||
| Wangaratta | |||
| Wodonga | |||
| Yackandandah | |||
| Yarrawonga |
North West Region
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Notes |
| Bendigo | |||
| Birchip | |||
| Castlemaine | 1 Scotts AVE,
Castlemaine VIC 3450 |
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| Dunolly | |||
| Echuca | |||
| Gisborne | |||
| Heathcote | |||
| Huntly | |||
| Kerang | |||
| Kyabram | |||
| Marong | |||
| Maryborough | |||
| Mildura | |||
| Murrayville | |||
| North West RSU | |||
| Ouyen | |||
| Robinvale | |||
| Rochester | |||
| Rushworth | |||
| Swan Hill | |||
| Wedderburn | |||
| Woodend | |||
| Woomelang | |||
| Wycheproof |
South West Region
| Unit | Location | Other Links | Notes |
| Balmoral | |||
| Bannockburn | |||
| Bellarine | |||
| Camperdown | |||
| Cobden | |||
| Colac | |||
| Corio | |||
| Dartmoor | |||
| Dunkeld | |||
| Geelong | |||
| Hamilton | |||
| Heywood | |||
| Lismore | |||
| Lorne | |||
| Mortlake | |||
| Otway | |||
| Port Campbell | |||
| Port Fairy | |||
| Portland | |||
| RSU | |||
| South Barwon | |||
| Terang | |||
| Torquay | |||
| Warrnambool | |||
| Winchelsea |
Volunteers Association
Volunteers and Units are represented by the Victoria State Emergency Service Volunteers Association (VICSESVA) which was formed in 1983.
The Association's role is to advocate for VICSES volunteers by raising issues that impact on skills, training, funding, equipment, ethics & safety. VICSESVA is a non-profit association run and managed by VICSES Volunteers.
See also
Other States:
- (NSW) New South Wales State Emergency Service
- (QLD) Queensland State Emergency Service
- (SA) South Australian State Emergency Service
- (ACT) Australian Capital Territory State Emergency Service
- (WA) State Emergency Service of Western Australia
- (NT) Northern Territory Emergency Service
- (TAS) Tasmania State Emergency Service
References
- "SES – Who We Are". www.ses.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- "Victoria State Emergency Service". Victoria SES.
- "Wyndham West unit welcomed into VICSES family".
External links
- Victoria SES Facebook page
- Australian Council of State Emergency Services
- Victoria State Emergency Service
- Victoria State Emergency Service Volunteers Association
| States and Territories |
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